Bumper



BUMPER INVENTOR Shawl/es F. JVla/PSIOYL BY 2 g WTNESSES M01/fw ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES F. HARSTON, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

BUMPER.

Application led July 7,

This invention relates to improvements in bumpers and more articularl to a cushioning attachment for um rs, t e primary object of the invention eing to provide a cushioning attachment which may be secured to the front bar of any ordinary bumper arid which will not interfere in any way with the full resiliency and movement of the front bar or any other part of the bumper equipment. y

A further object is to provide a cushioning attachment, which may be inflated 0r which may merely confine air in thecompartment, or be cushioned in an way, which Il will fit Hat against the front o the bumper to cushion shocks and prevent injury to persons hit by the bum er, and which can be attached and detache by an one of average intelligence, not requiring s illed labor.

A further object is to provide a bumper attachment of this character of improved form, having an improved arrangement of clam ,ing brackets which insure a proper coup ing engagement of the parts and seourely hold the attachment to the face of the bumper bar or bars.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel featuresv of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claimsc In the aecompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view shoyving my improved bumper attachment in operative position;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the device in position' ou a standard type or bumper;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in transverse section on 'the line Jr-3 of Figure 2;

lFigure l is an enlarged view transverse section on tbe line 4 4 of Fi ire E;

liligure 5 is a perspective view of one of 'the clamping brackets;

Figure t3 is a perspective view talren from the rear my improved bumper attaclfiu lil d are views similar to Figustrating modihcetions.

automobile, and and E i rear bars, respectively, oi a if course it myself 1927. Serial No. 204,014.

curved at its ends so as to conform to theV general shape of the front bar 2 of a bumper.

The back face 5 of the shoe 4: is smooth except for bolt receiving recesses 5', and relatively flat throughout its length so as to lie flush and smooth against the front face of the bumper. Around the shoe at its rear edge a bead 6 is formed integral with the shoe, as clearly illustrated.

This shoe may have a longitudinal slit 7 in its rear Wall extending the desired length sufficient to permit an ,inner tube 8 to e inserted into the shoe, and said slot is covered by a strip 9 of canvas or other suitable material after the inner tube is inserted in place. This inner tube may have a valve inlet 10 for the connection of a pump to Iinflate the inner tube.

I do not Wish to be limited to the employment of an inner tube as it is perfectly obvious that my invention/ is broad enough to cover a cushioning device. as distinguished from a pneumatic device.

In the drawings l have shown the bumper as provided with a pair or" 'front bars 2, one disposed above the other, which is the ordinary form of bumper in general use, but it is obvious oi course that my invention is applicable for use in connection With a single bar or any number or bars.

The cushioning attachment is made with the said beads 6 extending longitudinally thereoiE its rear edge, andl to secure the device to the bars 2 of a bumper I employ any desired number oit bolts 1li 'which are proyected tbrough damping brackets 12 engaging the edges oit tbe 2 and positioned over the beads d Une these clamping brackets v152 is shown in perspective in lligure 5 from which it willi be net-ed the intermediate is or the upper series oi .lar i3 to re o the bolts ll, and lo) or tongue ceive un ldd 14 at its rear end to engage back of the bumper bar, and an extended flange 15 to engage the bead 6.

As .above stated, these bracketslare positioned on the bolts 11, engaging the upper and lower edges of the bumper bars and positioned. over the up er and lower beads of the attachment, an said bolts4 may be secured by ordinary nuts 16' which actually clamp the parts together.

The shoe 4 is provided at its upper portion with a rearwardly projecting integral flange 16, which extends over the clamps and bolts and the edge of the bar covering the attaching means so as to make a more attractive attachment and also rotect the bars from the accumulation of irt, water, etc. This flange 16 is flexible so that it may be lifted to allow free manipulation of the parts but will normally lie in the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8.

In Figure 7 I illustrate my improved cushioning member 17 as solid, and in Figure 8 I show my improved inner tube bumper attachment secured to a single bar with the air inlet valve 10 extending downwardly in front of the bumper bar. Y

When a bumper is equipped with my improved attachment the or inary functions of the bumper are not interfered with in any way as the bars of the bumper are free to move and are in no way restricted or 'confined by`- the attachment. In addition, the attachmentf'provides a cushion which absorbs the shocks, prevents damage to the automobile as well as to objects and persons with which it may come in contact.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention it is obvious that various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from m invention and hence I do not limit mysel to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims:

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of bumper bars, one located above the other, a cushioning attachment positioned against both of said bumper bars, clamping brackets engaging over the bumper bars and engaging the attachment, bolts projectedthrough the clamping brackets, and extended flanges on the forward ends of said clamping brackets engaging the attachment.

2. An attachment of the character described, comprising a resilient cushioning member adapted to be positioned. against the front face of a bumper bar, a plurality of separated clamps securing the attachment to the bumper bar whereby the bumper bar is permitted free flexing at all points, and a bendable flange on the cushioning device extending-over the clal'n ing members.

3. An attachment for umpers, compris ing a cushioning member having a rear face conforming in shape to the shape of a bumper bar to which it is to be attached, and also having bolt receivin recesses in its rear face, .and a rearwar ly projecting flexiblailange at its upper portion.

CHARLES F. M ARSTQN. 

